Refrigeration



March 10, 1942. w, A, KUVENZLI REFRIGERATION Filed Dec. 22 1937 &

INVENTOR. I UJMIDLOL IW ZfTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 10, 1942 2,275,677 REFRIGERATION Walter A. Kuenzli, Evansville, Ind., assignor to Servel, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 22, 1937, Serial No. 181,121

11 Claims. (Cl. 62-

My invention relates to refrigeration and more particularly to refrigeration systems of an absorption type.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improvement in systems of this type for increasing the surface contact between a gas and liquid. I accomplish this'by providing a plurality of gas or vapor-lift lines in a liquid circulation circuit whereby liquid is repeatedly segregated by vapor and slugs of liquid are raised in the several lines by vapor-lift action. By this arrangement,-the volume of liquid circulated is divided or split in the several vapor-lift lines and the gas and liquid contact is increased over that obtained in a single line or conduit. Further, the gas and liquid contact between the slugs of liquid and inter-locked vapor is maintained for a considerable distance of the flow of the fluids in the several lines.

The invention, together with the above and other objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description and accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and of which the single figure more or less diagrammatically illustrates an absorption refrigeration system embodying the invention.

In the drawing I have shown the invention applied to a refrigeration system of the character generally described in Munters Patent No. 2,086,632, but it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the refrigeration system therein described. However, .for purposes of description, it may be considered that the disclosure of Munters Patent No. 2,086,632 is incorporated in this application.

The system shown in Fig. 1 includes-an absorption liquid reservoir III which is of suflicient volume to hold the bulk of the absorption liquid in the system. This reservoir is preferably exposed to the cooling influence of surrounding air. To

one side of reservoir I0 is a vessel II which may be termed a generator or separator or be considered as a part of a vapor expeller. This vessel is not directly heatedjthough it may be. In the embodiment illustrated, the contents of vessel H are heated by a conduit l2 including a vapor-lift coil l3 which is in heat exchange relation with a flue H which maybe suitably heated as by a gas burner or by an electric heater disposed therein.

Between vessels [0 and H is a liquid heat exchanger 22 including inner and outer conduits forming heat exchange spaces for flow of liquid. The inner conduit I5 ot the heat exchanger is connected at one end to the lower part of vessel I I, and at its other end to the reservoir I0; Conduit I5 provides a path for flow of liquid from the bottom part of vessel II to reservoir Ill.

Connected to the top of reservoir 10 is a vertical conduit IS, the upper end of which is connected to a vessel Ilwhich is normally filled or substantially filled with liquid. To the lower part of reservoir I0 is connected a, vertically extending con'duit l8 which communicates at its upper end with a chamber l8a. A plurality of lines I81), I80, and id extend upwardly from chamber [811. These lines include horizontal looped portions 91), 9c, and 9d constituting absorption liquid cooling elements having fins [9 for increasing the heat transfer surface; The upper end of vapor-lift line 18b is connected to vessel ll. From the upper ends of cooling elements 90 and 9d the lines I and l8d,extend downwardly and are connected to conduit [6. To the upper parts of cooling elements and 9d are connected conduits 8c and M which extend upwardly and into vessel ll.

A strong liquor conduit 20 is also connected to vessel ll. The parts l6, l1, l8, lBa, I81), I80, [8d, and 20 constitute an absorption liquid containing .filled or substantially filled with liquid due to the fact that, these parts being exposed to atmosphere, the temperature of the fluid therein is such that for the pressure prevailing in the sys 'tem and in view of the concentration of solution,

all the gas can be dissolved and remain in solution form.

The lower end of conduit 20 is connected to the outer conduit 2| of the liquid heat exchanger 22. A conduit 23 extends between the other end of the outer conduit of the heat exchanger and the lower part of an annular chamber 24 which is formed between vessel 25 and'an inner vertically disposed cylinder 26. Chamber 24 is closed at the bottom except for conduit connections and is open at the top. The upper edge 21 of inner cylinder 26 provides an overflow edge. The central space 28' is connected at the bottom with a tube 29. This tube contains a liquid reaction head for a gas-lift structure.

A conduit 32 is connected to the bottom of tube 29 and includes a gas-lift coil 33 surrounding flue M. The upper end of coil 33 is connected by the conduit 32 to the space 24. A second conduit 30 is connected to the lower end of tube 29 and includes a gas-lift coil 3|, the u per end or which extends within the upper part of vessel H. A

vapor conduit 52 connects the upper part of vessel '-I I with the space 28.

A volume variation vessel 35 is connected by conduits 31 and 36 with the tube 29 and the vessel 25.

A conduit 38 extends upwardly from conduit 36.

and projects within a rectifier jacket 39 to which is connected a condenser loop 4| having fins th'ereon exposed to atmospheric air for cooling. Th rectifier 39 is connected by means of a con' duit 42 with an evaporator 45 which is adapted to be located within a space to be cooled.

Connected to the evaporator 45 is a conduit 46 adapted to receive residue absorption liquid from the bottom of the evaporator. A loop 41 has an opening within conduit 46 and is connected at a high point to dome 43 of the evaporator by means orator can enter chamber 59a.

The operation of the system described above is set. forth at length in the aforementioned Munters patent and will be here briefly described, reference being had 'to the aforesaid patent for a more detailed description of operation, if desired.

During a. high pressure period heat is applied in the flue l4. This causes generation of vapor in the three gas-lift coils I3, 3|, and 33. C011 I3 is merely a local circulator for the generator vessel ll. Coil 3| causes a lifting. of liquid and vapor from the bottom of tube 29 to the upper part of vessel II. In vessel II the vapor generated is separated from the liquid. The liquid flows downwardly within vessel II and through conduit I to the reservoir I0. Fromreservoir in liquid circulates upwardly through conduit I5, through vessel I1, through conduit 20, through conduit 2| forming the outer space oi.

heat exchange 22, and through conduit 23 and into space 24. Liquid in space 24 is pushed upwardly therein due to the lifting of liquid and vapor'by coil 33 and the liquid overflows into space 28 and down into tube 29 whence the liquid is returned to the vessel II by means of coil 3|.

The expelled vapor passes through conduit 62 and flows upwardly through the'overflow liquid in vessel 25. The vapor thence flows upwardly through conduit 38 and is condensed in condenser loop 4|. Entrained water vapor is removed from the refrigerant vapor in the analyzer space 28 and the rectifier 39 and returns to the lower part of the system. Liquid refrigerant is forced'through conduit 42 into the evaporator 45 where it collects. During this period there is little or no circulation through conduit 8, chamber l8a, and lines I81), I80, and I8d. The expulsion of refrigerant vapor continues until vaporized. When, however, substantially pure refrigerant overflows through conduit 49 it becomes vaporized at point 49a. The introduction of vapor from conduit 49 into-chamber I81: I

causes a circulation to be set up, as will be described hereinafter, which circulation of warm liquid may be utilized by means of a thermostat or through other means to shut off the heat to the generator, thereby closing the generating period.

When the heat to the generator is shut oil,- the liquid in space 24 drops since the coil 33 is no longer effective, and as this liquid drops a starts, which period is at reduced pressure. The

gas rises in two or more of the lines I8b, Ho, and W1, as described hereinafter, and is ab-- sorbed in two or more of the absorber cooling elements 9b, 9c, and 9d. During this absorption period a circulation is set up from reservoir I0 the evaporator contains so much liquid refrig-' erant that there is an overflow through conduit 46 and loop 41 into conduit 49. Liquid overflowing through conduit 49 consists at first of absorption liquid. This liquid flows in heat exchange relation with the volume variation vessel 35 at 49a but the absorption liquid is not through conduit I8, chamber I8a, and two or more lines I81), I80, and id. The absorption liquid in line l8b flows into vessel I1 and thence downwardly through'conduit I5 into reservoir Ill. The absorption liquid in lines I and IM flows therefrom into conduit I6.

The lower ends of lines I81), I80, and I8d which extend into chamber I8a are provided with openings 52, 53,-and 54, respectively. The openings 53 and 54 in lines I80 and I811 are substantially at the same level and opening 52 in line I8b is at a lower level.

When substantially pure refrigerant overflows through conduit 49 and becomes vaporized at 49a, as explained above, the vapor is introduced in chamber I 8a. This vapor depresses the liquid level in chamber I81: and the liquid in the upper part of the chamber is repeatedly segregated in a well-known manner by the vapor whereby slugs of liquid are raised in the vapor-lift lines by vapor-lift action. The internal diameter of lines I8b, I80, and I8d is sufficiently small so that vapor bubbles cannot freely pass liquid in these lines. Since the openings 53 and 54 are at a higher level than opening 52, slugs of liquid are raised first in lines I80 and id. If the quantity of vapor introduced through conduit 49 is such that the liquid level in chamberIBa remains above opening 52 in line I8b, liquid circulation is only set up in lines I80 and I8d. The circulation of warm liquid in these lines may be utilized to shut off the heat to the generator, as explained above.

the liquid level in chamber I80. falls to the opening 52, liquid is raised by vapor-lift action in line I 8b, as well as in lines I80 and lad.

After the heat to the generator is shut-off and the absorption period starts, the liquid level in The slugs of liquid and vapor rise in lines A I80 and lid and flow through the absorber cooling elements and 9d. Since the liquid flow-. ing upward in conduit I8 is split or divided in When the quantity of vapor entering through conduit 49 is such that absorber cooling elements 90 and 9d, and, due to the rapid flow of the fluids through the cooling elements by vapor-lift action, the heat oiabsorption is effectively transmitted from the solution to the surrounding air.

The absorption solution flows from ,the upper ends of cooling elements 9c and 9d through the lines [8c and I80. into conduit l6, and then flows downward in the latter into the upper part of reservoir I0. Any vapor passing through the cooling elements 90 and 9d will flow through conduits 8c and 8d into vessel II where it will be practically immediately absorbed into solution in the liquid therein. While the upperends of the vent conduits 8c and 8d may terminate in the upper part of vessel I1 and above the liquid level therein, these conduits preferably extend downward below the liquid level to facilitate the absorption of refrigerant vapor.

When the rate of evaporation ofrefrigerant in evaporator 45 increases and the lines I80 and lid become overloaded, the line l8b comes into action. This occurs when rate of flow of refrigerant vapor into chamber l8a is such that the liquid level therein is depressed to opening 52, whereupon liquid is raised by vapor-lift action in all of thelines I81), I80, and Hid. Vapor in line l8b is absorbed in liquid during the flow of the fluids through absorber cooling element 9b, and the solution flows into vessel II. From vessel I'I liquid flows downward in conduit Hi to reservoir III along with the liquid flowing downward from the upper ends of absorber cooling elements ,90 and 9d.

The above described arrangement of effecting gas and liquid contact is particularly advantae geous in relatively large systems inwhich a relatively large quantity of refrigerant vapor is absorbed per unit of time. In systems of this char acter it is desirable to circulate largevolumes of absorption solution in order to keep the concentration of the solution low, particularly in the absorber. By providing multiple gas or vaporlift lines in a system of the character described, a rapid circulation of liquid is easily effected When lines l8c and I811 carry the entire load and line 18b is not functioning, any vapor that may flow through vent conduits 8c and 8d from acts to regulate the flow of refrigerant vaporiirom evaporator 45 into the liquid circulation circuit during an'absorption period, as described in detail in the aforementioned Munters patent. In

other words, the accumulation of excess vapor in vessel I1 and depressing of the liquid level thereinsolution when only lines I80 and W1 are in operation. Only when an over load occurs after all of the vapor-lift lines come into action does excess vapor begin to accumulate ,in vessel II.

with the arrangement described above, therefore, the forming of an excess vapor space in vessel I1 is retarded so? that the flow of vapor into the liquid circulation circuit during an absorption period is not reduced until the rate ofevaporation becomes relatively great and a reduced flow of vapor is desired.

It will bev obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the'specific refrigeration system disclosed.

What is claimed is:

1. In an absorption refrigeration system .of the kind having low pressure periods of refrigerant evaporation and absorption alternating with higher pressure periods of expulsion of refrigerant from solution, a generator, an evaporator,

and a storage reservoir of sufilcient volume to hold the bulk of absorption liquid in the system, members forming a circuit for circulation of liquid through said reservoir, including a. plurality of upflow conduits, and means to conduct vapor from said evaporator to said conduits, said conduits splitting the flow of liquid and vapor so that relatively small quantities of liquid at a time from the reservoir are caused to 'flow in the presence of the vapor. v

2. An absorption refrigeration system as set forthin claim 1, in which said upflow conduits are so constructed and arranged that flow of vapor takes place in a greater number 'of said conduits with increase in the rate of evaporation and flow of vapor from said evaporator.

3. An absorption refrigeration system as set forth in claim 1, in which said upflow conduits constitute absorbers having heat emitting parts.

4.11; an absorption refrigeration system as set forth in claim 1, means to permit separation of vapor from liquid .at the upper parts of said conduits.

5. An absorption refrigeration system-including a vapor expulsion component, members forming'an absorption liquid circuit having upflow conduits and a downflow conduit connected at their upper endsabove said vapor expulsion component, said upflow conduits providing parallel paths of flow, means to so. introduce gas into .said upflow conduits that relatively small quanthe upper ends. of cooling elements 90 and 9d is readily absorbed into solution in vessel ll .because the concentration of the solution is kept low in this vessel.

The lines I8b, I80, and IM become overloaded when more gas enters these lines than can be This lowering of the liquid'level in vessel, IT

' circuit and an auxiliary circuit for circulation of absorption liquid in the latter of which there is titles of absorption liquid at a time are caused to flow in the presence of the-gas, and means to control admission of gas while maintaining circulation of liquid in said circuit.

6. A refrigeration system of the kind having low pressure periods of refrigerant evaporation and absorption alternating with higher pressure periods of vapor expulsion andincluding a main substantially no circulation of absorption liquid during the higher pressure periods of vapor en pulsion, and said auxiliary circuit being arranged to provide means for causing circulation of liquid therein during the low pressure periods by raising liquid in parallel paths of flow by vapor-lift action.

7. In an absorption refrigeration system having low pressure periods of refrigerant evaporation and absorption alternating with higher pressure periods of vapor expulsion, an absorption liquid reservoir, a vessel above said reservoir, an upflow conduit and adownflow conduit connecting said vessel and said reservoir to form a circulation circuit for absorption liquid, said upl flow conduit providing parallel paths of flow for absorption liquid, means to admit gas to said circuit for upflow therein, the parallel, paths of flow provided by said upflow conduit splitting the flow of absorption liquid and vapor so that relatively smallquantities of liquid at a time from the reservoir are caused to flow in the presence of the gas, and means including a conduit connected to said vessel and extending below said vessel for variably controlling admission of gas to said circuit 8. An absorption refrigeration system as set forth in claim 7 in which said means to admit gas to said circuit and said upflow conduit providing the parallel paths of flow are so confor liquid and constituting an absorber, and a downflow conduit, an evaporator, means to conduct vapor from the evaporator to said upflow conduit, the parallel paths of flow provided by said upflow conduit splitting the flow of liquid 7 to receive gas and liquid whereby gas and liquid' passes into each of said lines and flow of liquid is .effected in said lines by vapor-lift action, said lines and said structure being so constructed and 1 arranged that vapor will flow in a greater number of said lines with increase in the rate at which said structure receives gas. I

' 11. In an absorption refrigeration system, apparatus for bringing gas and liquid fluids in the system into good contact including a chamber, a plurality of conduits extending upward from said chamber and having openings in said chamber, means for conducting gas and liquid fluids in the system to said chamber, and each of said conduits having at least one port in its side within said chamber and above said openings, the highest port in one conduit being below the highest port in another of said conduits.

WALTER A. KUENZLI. 

